Brisbane to Cairns: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Brisbane from Cairns?

The distance from Brisbane to Cairns is 863.4 miles (1389.5 km) as the crow flies. Cairns is located NW of Brisbane. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1052.3 miles, taking about 21h 55min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 14min. Both are located in Australia.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Brisbane and Cairns. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.